Ford Lends Hybrid, Chicago Buys Toyotas

Guess the city of Chicago had a better idea.

Ford Motor Co. donated an Escape Hybrid SUV to the city of Chicago a year ago so the city could evaluate the performance of hybrids as fleet vehicles.

Ford doesn't build the Escape Hybrid in Chicago, but it does employ Chicagoans who assemble the midsize Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable there, along with the Taurus X crossover. So donating the Escape Hybrid was being neighborly

"Thanks to Ford Motor Co., we're well on our way to understanding the benefits of using low emission hybrid vehicles in fleets,” said Norma Reyes, then-commissioner of Chicago's Department of Consumer Services.

The city must have been impressed, because the Associated Press is now reporting that Chicago has agreed to purchase up to 300 hybrid vehicles for use by its police and fire departments — from a Toyota dealer: 100 Prius hybrids, 100 Camry Hybrids and 100 Highlander Hybrid SUVs.

The city has signed an $8.7 million contract with Northside Toyota to buy the Toyota hybrids over the next three years. Ironically, in that same time period, in addition to its Escape Hybrid, Ford will produce hybrid versions of its Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan sedans that compete against the Camry.

The Fusion and Milan hybrids go into production late next year. It’s doubtful Ford will loan those two out in the Windy City.

More Hybrids on the Way for City Fleet (Chicago Tribune)

Comments

[LM]

How has reliability been for the Escape? Could this have played a part in Chicago's decision? The Prius is one of the most reliable vehicles made.

Perhaps it was availability too? Does Ford have the production capacity and ability to negotiate on price like Toyota might?

Ford can't complain though, they still get to sell all their Crown Vics to the police departments.

[Dave T.]

LM,
I'm not sure where you have your reliability figures from. What report has the Prius as one of the most reliable vehicles made? I'm not saying it isn't but what are you referring to?

I doubt reliability had much to do with it. You'd think city fleets would be used to fixing ford vehicles anyway.

I think the supply would be the biggest problem as Ford can't currently build enough Hybrid Escapes to meet demand. Around 20,000 a year.

[LM]

I can start here:
http://www.autoweb.com/content/research/vir/index.cfm/vehicle_number_int/1018603/Action/Reliability

and from here:
"Third, we learned that hybrid vehicles have thus far proven to be extremely reliable. In fact, the Prius and the Honda Civic hybrid topped CR's rankings of Most reliable, with just 4% of owners reporting problems. In addition, the Highlander hybrid, Lexus RX400h hybrid and the Accord hybrid also did very well in reliability."

http://www.soultek.com/clean_energy/hybrid_cars/consumer_reports_and_hybrid_cars_what_you_need_to_know.htm

They based it on Consumer Reports reviews

Also, JD Power rates it highly, though not as highly as the Civic in the Compact Class.

http://www.jdpower.com/autos/ratings/segment/compact-car

Dependability was also rated relatively high:
http://www.jdpower.com/autos/ratings/dependability/compact-car

I wouldn't be surprised if the typical Prius owner doesn't complain as much because they are enthusiasts. Of course, the opposite could be true as well - they could be overly scrupulous.

[sulli]

This is another example of this site writing a story to make one company look a certain way. When I read it, it seammed to be worded to suggest that the city of Chicago dissed Ford. The city chose to three vehicles over one. That doesn't say anything negative about about the Escape, and to me it makes sense for Chicago to do what they did. A Prius/Camry gets better gas mileage than an Escape (a boxy suv) and a Highlander is bigger. It's as simple as that- this isn't even story worthy . . . unless you are on a mission to sway peoples oppinions.

[Dave T.]

Sulli,
It is a huge story because of the economic impact Ford has on the city of Chicago and the fact that Ford made a big deal about loaning Chicago the Escape in the first place.

It could also be a story about politics as the person who was charge of the system when the loan occurred is no longer there.

However you look at it, it is a worthy story.

[Tom L]

I travel to Chicago on a regular basis, and for all that can be said about Ford employees being from Chicago, I see more Toyotas there than in DC , Baltimore, or Boston combined it seems. It is a solid proposition to say that production capacity would have something to do with it: however, vehicles that are something akin to what normal people drive also might give off a "more friendly" vibe to the Chicago government.

[DarrylM]

And while that Ford factory is technically in the City limits, it is just a spit away from the Indiana and southeast suburban border, most of the employees there do not live in the City so there is no worker advantage to not going with Ford.

It does stink that the City of Chicago will send American taxpaying dollars to support a Japanese company. And do not give me that clap-trap about the vehicle being made here by Americans - the PROFITS to the COMPANY all flow back to Japan.

The City is funded primarily via property taxes from homeowners. Homeowners who get their salaries from the steel mills, assembly lines and other staples of America. Buy a Japan car, put an American out of work, he does not buy a home and pay taxes and soon your city will be Detroit, Cleveland, Gary, etc.

[happymantis]

Why do people whine so much whenever the Japanese seem to be increasing their market share in the U.S? This means that companies like Cadillac will be forced to make competitive products again... just look at the 08 CTS... just gorgeous... doubt that that would ever happen if Americans insisted on blindly buying the crap Detroit shoves down their throat with little consideration for the customer's needs...

[Amuro Ray]

The decision for CofC to go with Toyota has NOTHING to do with domestics VS imports. If you go to California, you'll see the same thing there too. Many CA cities use the Prius as the gov't vehicles, and not anything else. It's has to do with fuel conservation and space use, hence practical reason.

However, I keep on questioning this to those die hard domestics supporters - research after research by MANY financial companies - either within US or outside of US - have shown that it's totally false to state that money will go back to japan when you buy a Japanese vehicle. You can do a google search and look at those reputable financial reports (and not personal blogs/editorials/etc.). However, domestic supports keep on making these statements despite they know that they are wrong, and NO ONE has ever shown any support to back them up! Don't you realize that this is just a propanganda by US manufacturers to brainwash you guys? The profit doesn't really go back to the country; it goes to the shareholders from anywhere around the world. The shareholders will then keep on investing, and that's how the manufacturers make the BIG $$$ there. You statement might be true in the 60's or 70's, but it's no longer the case nowadays.

[Tom L]

I find it funny that Darryl says we put an American out of work when we buy a Japanese car, and then goes on to claim that their salaries are paid by the "steel mills, assembly lines and other staples of America."

When was the last time the majority of Americans were employed in manufacturing? 30 years ago? I travel all around this country and to other parts of the world, and of the thousands of towns and cities I have visited, in America I can say only a sparse few towns actually earn their money through manufacturing. The true staples of America today are in managerial, engineering, scientific positions and in financial services. Americans are known as the financing geniuses of the world, but not the steel workers. Lol.

[Anon]

I would love to see a toyota prius police car. Thats really effective. I highly doubt that day will happen. So lets see this arguement now. All government vehicles won't be replaced by toyota prius. They are too underpowered to do normal police dutys on a day to day basis. There is no way "Many CA cities use the Prius as the gov't vehicles, and not anything else." Govnt vehicles can also include fire company and other service vehicles. They may has some. but they do use other cars.

Also: http://www.toyota-tsusho.com/english/ir/shareholders/shareholder02.cfm

Where are most of those Stockholders companys. Japan. Hence money goes over seas. Shut up Already. All I see is you argue on here with anyone who does not think the same as you.

[Allen]

I hate to be back here, but Tom pulled me aside while I was visiting so here is my two cents:

Detroit and Cleveland are in the state they are in now because American auto workers and executives do not work as hard to give Americans a good car as the foreign companies do.

[DieJoeBoo]

So the Japanese get our money....so what? We're all humans here, no need to be racist. They deserve our money for making products superior to those built here in America. I own a Subaru and a Honda which have been nothing but problem-free since I bought them. My company car, a 2005 Chrysler Sebring, has been out of commission more times than my Honda and Subaru have been in for regular maintenance, combined.

Some of you need to get over Pearl Harbor.

[Anon]

If you think it is racism then you clearly are reaching now for a defence. Pearl Harbor is not the reason people buy domestics at all. If that was the case then people would not buy Benz or BMW because they are German.

Its the fact that the American economy needs the sales to repair itself. The reasons why other countries have better things then this one does is because of their own countries support and our countries support. With so much money in that is how they get better education, Better looking cars, so on and so forth.

Come on and reach now and claim racism. That is total bull.

[Amuro Ray]

Oh man, this is THE BEST!

"With so much money in that is how they get better education"

The better education doesn't come with the economy; it comes from YOU!!! With that many idiots who thinks this way...blaming everyone and everything else for being better, no wonder we've such a lousy country.

P.S. China and India were in such a lousy economy - none to be exact some 40-50 years ago, and Japan had vitrually NOTHING after the atomic bomb. But guess what, their people worked their ass off to better educate themselves, and got to where they are today. Did they have "SO MUCH MONEY" before to get better education? I hope you are smart enough to answer that.

You are right on 1 thing though, that CA gov't doesn't have every single vehicle from Toyota.. Most use the Pirus as gov't vehicles for NON-emergency use, so not fire engine or cop cars or ambulance, but daily gov't operations like gov't employee tranportation. If you look into San Jose or Redwood City, the entire gov't fleet for the purpose listed above are Pirus'es" or Pirui.

[Anon]

Well If you would love a history lesson. Japan still had things after the atomic bomb. It was not dropped on their capital. It was dropped in two different locations. All of Japan is not two locations. During 911 did america lose everything after there was a terrorist attack in 2 locations (and a plane that was ment for a unknown location that crashed into a field.)
Ergo, Your question is pointless.

Better education can come out of the economy. With sucess of Companies they donate money to struggling school districts. Dell Computer and Mircosoft do it all the time. Why? Because they are well off. If more people would buy American cars the quality of the companies work would improve because it would have more gain then loss. Corporations also give grants and scholarships to help students fund for higher education. Then these students, with a higher education get better paying jobs and careers and the economy flourishes. This economy runs on people buying and spending. With more education people get more money, with more money people are more willing to spend, hence the company profits.

Almost anything can be tied in with economy given enough thought to it.

Sorry to get off topic. This is suppose to be about toyota winning chicago. Well that is the articles slant. Figure this: The Escape can't be used in every gov't situation, therefore because Toyota could deliver different vehicle types of hybrids it would only make sence for a city to get a contract with them.

My only problem is the article makes it seem like a battle is constantly going on and that Toyota is better then ford.

Grow up people.

[LM]

Also don't forget there are taxis converting to hybrids. We see lots of Camry Hybrid taxis here in Boston. 35mpg Camry Hybrid, 25 MPG Escape or 15 MPG Crown Vic? Hmmmmmm....

When you're driving 30,000 miles per year that extra 10 MPG makes a HUGE difference.

Even considering Taxi drivers' lead feet, it's still 8-10 MPG between vehicles.

It's a smart move by Chicago to buy a mixture of vehicles.

Is the Ford warranty the same as the Toyota Hybrid warranty? perhaps this played a role in their decision as well.

[Dave T.]

to be a real cynic you could also offer that perhaps the new person in charge has a buddy at the Toyota dealer. This is Chicago after all.

Obviously the above is just a joke.

[LM]

I thought that DT, but didn't want to say it. That happens all the time!

[DarrylM]

If the Japanese had to spend the lion's share of their economy to provide their own defense, instead of hiding under the U.S. taxpayer paid defense umbrella, they might not have so much money to invest in building better cars.

[Anon]

^^ Good Point

[LM]

They also provide universal health insurance. People who make the defense argument are probably the same ones who are against government health care.

We choose to defend the world - we're not forced to.

[DMLawyer]

They also send their kids to school 6 days per week and fight for spots to get into "the right" kindergarten.

Do you really want to emulate that ?

[LM]

We just focus on sending our kids to as many after school sports as possible. Is that better? That's why the cars suck.

[Jenki]

DarrylM - You are assuming that the money that pays for a nations defense and the money that funds research in the auto industry comes from the same place.

This assumption is wrong. Since when does the government develop new cars? Not here and not in Japan either. They may not spend near as much as us on defense, but I'd be willing to bet none of the surplus goes to Honda or Toyota....

[dmlawyer]

The money they are not spending to protect themselves allows them to pay for universal health care, which lightens a burden on companies that in turn do not have to provide health insurance to their workers, reducing the costs of production.

So there is a correlation.